Electrode dispensing device and dispensing method

Abstract

This invention provides a welding electrode dispensing device and method. The welding electrode dispensing device includes at least one welding electrode dispensing unit. The welding electrode dispensing unit includes a compartmenting mechanism, a release mechanism, and a metering module. A tray is fixed to a base plate and is inclined relative to the base plate. The tray has a slot adapted to a baffle, and the baffle is inserted into the slot. The baffle and the tray define a welding electrode receiving space for accommodating at least one welding electrode. The baffle has a first state and a second state. In the first state, at least part of the baffle is higher than the tray, and the welding electrode is located within the welding electrode receiving space. In the second state, the baffle is not higher than the tray, and the welding electrode rolls toward the lower end of the tray, thereby detaching from the tray and releasing the welding electrode. The release mechanism includes a rotating shaft and a lever fixed to the rotating shaft. During the rotation of the rotating shaft, the lever can contact the baffle in the first state to drive the baffle to move relative to the tray, thereby switching the baffle to the second state.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the management of welding electrodes, and more particularly to a welding electrode dispensing device and dispensing method. Background Technology

[0002] Traditional welding electrode dispensing relies heavily on manual operation, which suffers from low efficiency, high labor costs, and a high risk of errors, omissions, and inaccurate usage records. To address these issues, automated welding electrode dispensing equipment has emerged. This equipment can replace the traditional manual dispensing method, automating the welding electrode dispensing process to a certain extent, improving efficiency, and reducing errors caused by human intervention.

[0003] However, current automated electrode dispensing equipment still faces technical bottlenecks in terms of precise discrete dispensing. The storage and release structure lacks precise positioning and partitioning design, resulting in insufficient compartmentalization accuracy. This makes it impossible to achieve a strict correspondence between a single action and a fixed number of electrodes, thus failing to accurately determine the quantity and remaining amount of electrodes dispensed. This not only severely impacts the accuracy of electrode dispensing, leading to large discrepancies between the actual number of electrodes used and the remaining quantity, but also significantly increases the complexity of subsequent statistical calculations, substantially reduces the reliability and stability of equipment operation, and makes it difficult to meet the high-precision requirements of modern industrial production for automated management of welding materials. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to provide a welding electrode dispensing device and dispensing method, which can improve the work efficiency of dryers and welders.

[0005] One aspect of the present invention provides a welding electrode dispensing device, comprising at least one welding electrode dispensing unit; the welding electrode dispensing unit includes a compartmenting mechanism, a release mechanism, and a metering module; the compartmenting mechanism includes a base plate, a support plate, and at least one baffle; the support plate is fixed to the base plate and is inclined relative to the base plate; the support plate has a slot adapted to the baffle, and the baffle is inserted into the slot; the baffle and the support plate define a welding electrode receiving space for accommodating at least one welding electrode; the baffle has a first state and a second state; in the first state, at least a portion of the baffle is higher than the support plate. The welding rod is located within the welding rod receiving space; in the second state, the baffle is not higher than the support plate, and the welding rod rolls toward the lower end of the support plate, thereby detaching from the support plate and releasing the welding rod; the release mechanism includes a rotating shaft and a lever fixed to the rotating shaft. During the rotation of the rotating shaft, the lever can contact the baffle in the first state to drive the baffle to move relative to the support plate, thereby switching the baffle to the second state; the metering module is connected to the rotating shaft and is used to detect the angular displacement of the rotating shaft, and obtain the number of released welding rods and the remaining welding rod based on the angular displacement.

[0006] In one embodiment, there are multiple baffles, and the multiple baffles are respectively inserted into multiple slots on the support plate; the multiple slots are spaced apart along the inclined direction of the baffles, and the baffles are arranged sequentially along the inclined direction of the baffles.

[0007] In one embodiment, the baffle is provided with a lever; the release mechanism includes a plurality of levers, and each lever corresponds to a lever of each baffle, wherein the axial distance between two adjacent levers is equal to the distance between the corresponding two baffles.

[0008] In one embodiment, the rotating shaft extends along a first direction, and a plurality of the paddles are circumferentially spaced along the rotating shaft, with an included angle between adjacent paddles; the metering module includes a Hall sensor; the Hall sensor is used to detect the angular displacement of the rotating shaft, and in combination with the included angle, to determine the number of welding rods released in a single operation; wherein, the first direction is the projection direction of the inclined direction of the baffle onto the base plate.

[0009] In one embodiment, the two paddles with the largest axial distance have a neutral angle between them, the neutral angle being 5° to 15°.

[0010] In one embodiment, the electrode dispensing unit further includes a limiting mechanism and a resetting mechanism; the limiting mechanism includes a plunger, a first elastic element, and a fixing plate; the first elastic element is sleeved on the plunger, the first end of the plunger passes through an opening in the fixing plate and is fixed to the resetting mechanism, the fixing plate and the base plate are fixedly connected, and the two ends of the first elastic element abut against the fixing plate and the second end of the plunger, respectively; the baffle also has a plunger hole adapted to the plunger; when the baffle is in the first state, the plunger hole and the lever are located above the plunger; when the baffle is in the second state, the second end of the plunger is located inside the plunger hole.

[0011] In one embodiment, the plunger extends along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and located in the plane of the base plate; the reset mechanism is movable along the second direction; when the baffle is in the second state and the reset mechanism moves away from the fixed plate, the reset mechanism drives the plunger to move until the plunger disengages from the plunger hole, the baffle switches to the first state, and the first elastic element is compressed; after the reset mechanism is released, the plunger resets by means of the elastic force generated by the compression of the first elastic element.

[0012] In one embodiment, the electrode dispensing device further includes a second elastic element; the two ends of the second elastic element are respectively connected to the base plate and the baffle; when the baffle is in the second state, the second elastic element is compressed; after the plunger disengages from the plunger hole, the elastic force generated by the compression of the second elastic element can push the baffle upward, thereby causing the baffle to switch to the first state.

[0013] In one embodiment, the baffle is further provided with a protrusion; when the baffle is in the second state, the protrusion abuts against the support plate; and / or there are at least two second elastic members; and / or the second elastic member is a spring, the bottom plate is provided with a boss, one end of the second elastic member is sleeved on the boss, and the other end of the second elastic member abuts against the bottom end of the baffle.

[0014] Another aspect of the present invention provides a welding electrode dispensing method, applied to the welding electrode dispensing device described in any of the above embodiments; the welding electrode dispensing method includes: placing welding electrodes of a preset type and a preset quantity in the welding electrode receiving space of the welding electrode dispensing device; obtaining the welding electrode type requirement and welding electrode quantity requirement input by the welder; verifying the welder's identity; after successful verification, switching the state of the baffle of the welding electrode dispensing device according to the welding electrode type requirement and the welding electrode quantity requirement, and releasing the welding electrodes.

[0015] The electrode dispensing device of this invention utilizes a movable baffle in different states to store and dispense electrodes. A release mechanism switches the baffle from a first state to a second state. In the second state, an inclined tray precisely releases a certain number of electrodes from the electrode storage space, ensuring a single action precisely corresponds to the release of a fixed number of electrodes. The metering module analyzes the released electrode quantity and remaining electrode balance, enabling accurate electrode measurement. This invention, through the combination of a compartmentalization mechanism, a release mechanism, and a metering module, eliminates manual counting and achieves precise quantitative dispensing. It effectively solves the problems of time-consuming electrode collection for welders, errors in manual counting, and untimely electrode replenishment. This achieves intelligent and efficient electrode management, saving time, improving work and welding quality, and reducing labor and electrode wear costs. Attached Figure Description

[0016] The above and other features, properties and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and embodiments, wherein:

[0017] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the electrode dispensing device according to the present invention;

[0018] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the drawer and electrode dispensing unit of the electrode dispensing device shown;

[0019] Figure 3 yes Figure 2 Top view;

[0020] Figure 4 yes Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the release mechanism shown;

[0021] Figure 5 yes Figure 2 A three-dimensional structural diagram of the electrode dispensing unit shown;

[0022] Figure 6 yes Figure 5 The side view of the electrode dispensing unit shown;

[0023] Figure 7 yes Figure 5 The bottom view of the electrode dispensing unit shown;

[0024] Figure 8 This is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of the electrode dispensing method according to the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0025] Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Each example is provided to explain the invention and not to limit it. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations may be made to the invention without departing from the scope or spirit thereof. For example, a feature shown or described as part of one embodiment may be used with another embodiment to produce yet another embodiment. Therefore, the invention is intended to cover these modifications and variations that fall within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

[0026] The term "axial" refers to the central axis of the shaft or the direction parallel to the central axis of the shaft; the term "radial" refers to the direction perpendicular to the "axial" direction; and the term "circumferential" refers to the direction about the "axial" direction. As used herein, the terms "first" and "second" may be used interchangeably to distinguish one component from another and are not intended to indicate the position or importance of individual components.

[0027] Figure 1 The structure of an embodiment of the electrode dispensing device of the present invention is shown. The electrode dispensing device of the present invention includes at least one electrode dispensing unit 10, the number of which can be one, two, or more. The electrode dispensing units 10 store electrodes of the same type, therefore the number of electrode dispensing units 10 can be determined according to the required number of electrode types to be stored or dispensed. Figure 1 In the embodiment shown, there are two electrode dispensing units 10, which are stacked in the vertical direction.

[0028] like Figure 1 As shown, the electrode dispensing device of the present invention also includes a housing 20 for accommodating the electrode dispensing unit 10. A human-machine interface screen 21 and / or operation buttons may be provided on the housing 20 for convenient input and display of electrode information. The housing 20 may also be equipped with a facial recognition device for identifying the information of the welder receiving the electrodes, thereby determining the electrode information required by the welder. The electrode information includes the electrode type and the corresponding quantity of electrodes, for example, 30 E5018 type electrodes.

[0029] The housing 20 is divided into compartments according to the number of welding electrode dispensing units 10, for example... Figure 1 Each welding rod dispensing unit 10 in the system has an independent compartment 22 and a compartment door 23. The compartment door 23 can be locked by an electromagnetic locking valve to ensure the airtightness of each compartment 22.

[0030] The welding electrode dispensing unit 10 is located inside the corresponding drawer 30, such as... Figure 1 As shown, drawer 30 has three side walls and a bottom wall. Two symmetrical sliding grooves 32 are provided on the bottom wall of drawer 30. The sliding grooves 32 cooperate with the welding rod dispensing unit 10 to realize the sliding of the welding rod dispensing unit 10 relative to drawer 30.

[0031] Continue to refer to Figure 1 The bottom of the housing 20 of the electrode dispensing device of the present invention is also provided with a motion mechanism 24, such as a drive wheel, so that the electrode dispensing device can move to a designated work station according to navigation.

[0032] The electrode dispensing unit 10 of the present invention includes a compartmenting mechanism, a release mechanism 200, and a metering module (not shown). The compartmenting mechanism includes a base plate 110, a support plate 120, and at least one baffle 130. Both the base plate 110 and the support plate 120 are rectangular flat plates. The support plate 120 is fixed to the base plate 110 and is inclined relative to the base plate 110. Generally, the base plate 110 is parallel to the horizontal plane 221, and the support plate 120 can be understood as being inclined relative to the horizontal plane 221. The support plate 120 includes a high end 121 and a low end 122, where the high end 121 is the side furthest from the base plate 110, and the low end 122 is the side furthest from the base plate 110, and the two are opposite each other. The inclination direction AA of the support plate 120 refers to the direction of the line connecting the midpoint of the high end 121 and the midpoint of the low end 122; the inclination angle refers to the angle between the support plate 120 and the base plate 110. The inclination angle is preferably 3° to 10°. This range ensures that the welding electrode rolls slowly to the release position under gravity, without losing control and rolling down due to excessive angle, thus balancing rolling efficiency and stability.

[0033] The tray 120 has a slot 123 adapted to fit the baffle 130, and the baffle 130 is inserted into the slot 123. The baffle 130 can move relative to the tray 120 under the guidance of the slot 123. The baffle 130 and the tray 120 define a welding rod receiving space 140 for accommodating at least one welding rod. If there is one baffle 130, then the baffle 130 and the support plate 120 define the electrode receiving space 140. If there are two baffles 130, namely a first baffle 130 and a second baffle 130, wherein the first baffle 130 is closer to the lower end 122 of the support plate 120 than the second baffle 130, then the electrode receiving space 140 can be defined only between the first baffle 130, the second baffle 130 and the support plate 120, or the electrode receiving spaces 140 can be defined separately between the first baffle 130, the second baffle 130 and the support plate 120, and between the second baffle 130 and the support plate 120. If there are other numbers of baffles 130, the same logic applies, that is, N baffles 130 can correspond to N or N-1 electrode receiving spaces 140. The number of baffles 130 and slots 123 can be determined according to the number of electrodes to be stored and the rated number of electrodes stored in each electrode receiving space 140.

[0034] The baffle 130 has a first state and a second state. In the first state, as... Figure 2 As shown, at least part of the baffle 130 is higher than the tray 120, and the welding rods are located within the welding rod receiving space 140. In this state, the height of the upper end of the baffle 130 beyond the tray 120 is not less than the height of the welding rods stacked within the welding rod receiving space 140, to prevent some welding rods from rolling off and to ensure the stability of the welding rod storage. The height of the welding rods needs to be determined based on the number of welding rods, the diameter of the welding rods, and the size of the welding rod receiving space 140.

[0035] In the second state, the baffle 130 is no higher than the tray 120, and the welding rod rolls towards the lower end 122 of the tray 120, thus detaching from the tray 120. In this state, the baffle 130 descends to a position where its upper end is parallel to or lower than the tray 120, and the welding rod rolls towards the lower end 122 under the action of gravity. A window is provided on one side wall of the drawer 30, and the window is equipped with a V-shaped flip platform 31, such as... Figure 2 As shown, one side of the flipping platform 31 is aligned with the lower end 122 of the tray 120, and this side is not higher than the lower end 122 of the tray 120, so as to receive the rolling welding rod.

[0036] After the welding electrode rolls from the tray 120 to the flipping platform 31, the flipping platform 31 rotates to change the orientation of the opening, thus releasing the welding electrode.

[0037] like Figure 3 and Figure 4As shown, the release mechanism 200 includes a drive member 230, a rotating shaft 210, and a paddle 220 fixed to the rotating shaft 210. The drive member 230 is used to drive the rotating shaft 210 to rotate around its central axis, and the drive member 230 may be a motor. During the rotation of the rotating shaft 210, the paddle 220 can contact the baffle 130 in the first state, so as to drive the baffle 130 to move downward relative to the support plate 120, thereby switching the baffle 130 to the second state.

[0038] like Figure 4 As shown, the metering module is connected to the rotating shaft 210 and is used to detect the angular displacement of the rotating shaft 210. The metering module can be a Hall sensor. Based on the angular displacement of the rotating shaft 210, the number of baffles 130 driven to descend by the paddle 220 can be obtained, and thus the number of welding rods released can be obtained, allowing for accurate calculation of the number of welding rods released in a single operation. For ease of calculation, the number and type of welding rods stored in each welding rod receiving space 140 are the same.

[0039] Based on the detection results of the metering module, the number of released welding electrodes and the total number of stored welding electrodes can be calculated to obtain the remaining welding electrodes, thus enabling real-time monitoring of the remaining welding electrodes.

[0040] Furthermore, a margin prediction model is established based on the rotation frequency of the rotating shaft 210 detected by the Hall sensor. Combining the number of fixed welding rods released in a single rotation, the amount already released is calculated. The remaining amount of welding rods is obtained by subtracting the amount already released from the initial total amount. When it falls below a threshold, an early warning can be triggered to remind the drying operator to store the welding rods.

[0041] The electrode dispensing device of this invention utilizes a movable baffle 130 in different states to store and dispense electrodes. The release mechanism 200 switches the baffle 130 from a first state to a second state. In the second state, an inclined tray 120 precisely releases a certain number of electrodes from the electrode receiving space 140, ensuring a single action precisely corresponds to the release of a fixed number of electrodes. The metering module analyzes the released electrode quantity and remaining electrode balance, enabling precise electrode measurement. This invention, through the combination of a compartmentalization mechanism, a release mechanism 200, and a metering module, eliminates manual counting and achieves precise quantitative dispensing. It effectively solves the problems of time-consuming electrode collection for welders, errors in manual counting, and untimely electrode replenishment. This achieves intelligent and efficient electrode management, saving time, improving work and welding quality, and reducing labor and electrode wear costs.

[0042] like Figure 5As shown, in one embodiment, there are multiple baffles 130, which are respectively inserted into multiple slots 123 on the support plate 120. The multiple slots 123 are spaced apart along the inclination direction AA of the baffles 130, and the baffles 130 are arranged sequentially along the inclination direction AA of the baffles 130. The baffles 130 are arranged parallel to each other and perpendicular to the bottom plate 110. The height of the baffles 130 increases from the lower end 122 to the upper end 121 of the support plate 120. When all baffles 130 are in the first state, the height of each baffle 130 above the support plate 120 is the same.

[0043] The compartmenting mechanism also includes a guide plate 150, which is fixedly connected to the support plate 120 and the base plate 110. The guide plate 150 has guide grooves 341 that extend in the vertical direction, and the number of guide grooves 341 is the same as the number of baffles 130. In combination with the guide grooves 341 and the slots 123 on the support plate 120, the baffles 130 can be restricted to moving only up and down, ensuring that the baffles 130 do not deviate from the vertical direction.

[0044] Combination Figure 3 and Figure 4 The rotating shaft 210 extends along a first direction XX, where the first direction XX is the projection direction of the tilt direction AA of the baffle 130 onto the base plate 110. The two ends of the rotating shaft 210 are respectively mounted on the bearings of the drawer 30, and the rotating shaft 210 is connected to the output end of the drive unit 230 to realize the rotation of the rotating shaft 210.

[0045] like Figure 5 As shown, the baffle 130 is provided with a lever 131, which is cylindrical and extends along the first direction XX. The lever 220 is fixed to the outer circumferential surface of the rotating shaft 210 and is arranged along the second direction YY, wherein the second direction YY is perpendicular to the first direction XX and located in the plane 221 where the base plate 110 is located.

[0046] Depending on the number of baffles 130, the release mechanism 200 may include multiple paddles 220, each corresponding to a lever 131 of each baffle 130. The axial distance between two adjacent paddles 220 is equal to the distance between the corresponding two baffles 130. The axial distance refers to the distance between two paddles 220 along the axial direction of the rotating shaft 210.

[0047] Multiple paddles 220 are spaced apart circumferentially along the pivot 210, as shown in the image. Figure 4The diagram shows a spiral array structure along the axial direction. The projections of the planes 221 of two adjacent levers 220 onto the cross-section of the rotating shaft 210 have an included angle. A Hall sensor is used to detect the angular displacement of the rotating shaft 210, and combined with the included angle of the levers 220, the number of welding rods released in a single operation is determined. For example, if the Hall sensor detects that the rotating shaft 210 has rotated a total of 60° with an included angle of 30°, then two levers 220 have actuated the corresponding levers 131, meaning the two baffles 130 have descended, releasing welding rods from two welding rod receiving spaces 140. If the number of welding rods in one welding rod receiving space 140 is M, then a total of 2M welding rods were released in this operation.

[0048] refer to Figure 4 The paddle 220 has a flat surface 221 and an arc transition surface 222. The arc transition surface 222 cooperates with the lever 131 to improve the smoothness of the paddle 220 moving the lever 131.

[0049] The two levers 220 with the largest axial distance, namely the first lever 220 and the last lever 220 in the axial direction, have a neutral angle between them. No levers 220 are provided within the range of the neutral angle, that is, all levers 220 are set outside the angle range of the neutral angle. This can prevent the first lever 220 from contacting the lever 131 prematurely before the last lever 220 is disengaged, thus avoiding collision or jamming.

[0050] Specifically, the included angle of the interval of the paddle 220 is (360 - neutral angle) / N°, and the total angle of the N paddles 220 is (360 - neutral angle)°.

[0051] The neutral angle is preferably 5° to 15° to avoid interference between the lever 220 and the lever 131 and to ensure rotational stability.

[0052] When rotating, the paddle 220 moves the lever 131 to move the baffle 130 downward, thereby enabling the welding rod corresponding to the baffle 130 to roll freely to the lower end 122 and finally to the flipping platform 31.

[0053] Combination Figure 5 and Figure 6In one embodiment, the electrode dispensing unit 10 further includes a limiting mechanism 300 and a resetting mechanism 400. The limiting mechanism 300 includes a plunger 310, a first elastic element 320, and a fixing plate 330. The plunger 310 has a first end 311 and a second end 312, with the second end 312 being the head of the plunger 310. The plunger 310 and the plunger hole 132 correspond one-to-one. The first elastic element 320 is sleeved on the plunger 310, and the first end 311 of the plunger 310 passes through the opening of the fixing plate 330 and is fixed to the resetting mechanism 400. The resetting mechanism 400 may be a pull rod. Two support frames 340 are fixed to the lower bottom surface of the base plate 110. The support frames 340 have guide grooves 341, and the fixing plate 330 passes through the guide grooves 341 of the two support frames 340 and is fixed within the guide grooves 341. The two ends of the first elastic element 320 abut against the fixing plate 330 and the second end 312 of the plunger 310, respectively. The first elastic element 320 can be a spring.

[0054] The baffle 130 also has a plunger hole 132 that matches the plunger 310. When the baffle 130 is in the first state, the plunger hole 132 and the lever 131 are located above the plunger 310, that is, the second end 312 of the plunger 310 is disengaged from the plunger hole 132. When the baffle 130 is in the second state, the second end 312 of the plunger 310 is located inside the plunger hole 132, thereby limiting the baffle 130 and locking the baffle 130 to prevent it from springing back upward.

[0055] In one embodiment, the central axis of the plunger 310 and the plunger bore 132 extends along the second direction YY. At least a portion of the reset mechanism 400 is located within the guide groove 341 of the support frame 340, and the reset mechanism 400 can move along the second direction YY under the guidance of the guide groove 341. Figure 7 When the baffle 130 is in the second state, and the reset mechanism 400 moves away from the fixed plate 330, the reset mechanism 400 drives the plunger 310 to move until the plunger 310 disengages from the plunger hole 132. The baffle 130 then switches to the first state, and the first elastic element 320 is compressed. After the reset mechanism 400 is released, the plunger 310 resets due to the elastic force generated by the compression of the first elastic element 320. Pulling the reset mechanism 400 to move the plunger 310 backward releases the lever 131, and the baffle 130 returns to its original position under the action of the first elastic element 320. At this time, the welding rod administrator can pull out the drawer 30 to put a certain number of welding rods into each welding rod receiving space 140, and then push it back into its original position.

[0056] Combination Figure 5 and Figure 6In one embodiment, the electrode dispensing device further includes a second elastic element 510. The two ends of the second elastic element 510 are connected to the base plate 110 and the baffle 130, respectively. When the baffle 130 is in the second state, the second elastic element 510 is compressed. After the plunger 310 disengages from the plunger hole 132, the elastic force generated by the compression of the second elastic element 510 can push the baffle 130 upwards, thereby switching the baffle 130 to the first state. The elastic force of the second elastic element 510 can maintain the upper end of the baffle 130 above the support plate 120 by a distance equal to n layers of electrode * electrode diameter.

[0057] Further, refer to Figure 5 The baffle 130 is also provided with a protrusion 133. When the baffle 130 is in the second state, the protrusion 133 abuts against the support plate 120 to prevent the baffle 130 from continuing to move upward under the elastic force of the second elastic member 510 and disengaging from the slot 123 of the support plate 120.

[0058] There are at least two second elastic elements 510, with one baffle 130 corresponding to two second elastic elements 510.

[0059] The second elastic element 510 can be a spring. A boss 111 is provided on the base plate 110. One end of the second elastic element 510 is sleeved on the boss 111, and the other end of the second elastic element 510 abuts against the bottom end of the baffle 130. The boss 111 is used for positioning, preventing displacement, ensuring the balanced support of the baffle 130, and realizing the stable installation and uniform force distribution of the second elastic element 510.

[0060] The drive unit 230 drives the rotating shaft 210 to rotate (360 - neutral angle) / N°, which moves the stop lever downward without it rebounding. This continues until all N baffles 130 are blocked by the plunger 310. At this point, the remaining amount of welding rod in the welding rod dispensing unit 10 is 0, and all welding rods have been dispensed.

[0061] The electrode dispensing method of the present invention is applied to the electrode dispensing device described in any embodiment. For example... Figure 8 As shown, the electrode dispensing method of the present invention includes steps S100 to S400:

[0062] In step S100, a preset type and a preset quantity of welding electrodes are placed in the welding electrode receiving space 140 of the welding electrode dispensing device.

[0063] In this step, specifically, the operator opens the compartment door 23 and fills the welding rods into each welding rod receiving space 140 in sequence according to the preset quantity M (e.g., 20 rods per welding rod receiving space 140). It is important to note that the welding rods in each welding rod dispensing unit 10 (i.e., each drawer 30) are of the same type to facilitate the management and dispensing of welding rods of the same type and avoid confusion. Ensure that all baffles 130 are in the first position and that the welding rods are neatly arranged in each welding rod receiving space 140. Then close the compartment and confirm that the electromagnetic locking valve is locked to ensure the compartment is airtight. Enter the currently filled welding rod type and total quantity (e.g., E5018 type welding rods, total 200 rods) on the human-machine interface screen 21 of the housing 20. The system automatically performs metering calibration and completes the initialization settings.

[0064] In step S200, the welder's input requirements for welding rod type and quantity are obtained. Specifically, the welder selects the required welding rod type via a mobile app or on-site terminal. The welder enters the required quantity of welding rods (a*M pieces). The welder selects or enters the pick-up station location information. The welder submits the issuance request, and the system generates a delivery task.

[0065] In step S300, the welder's identity is verified. Specifically, in this step, the welding rod dispensing device automatically navigates to the designated workstation. The welder undergoes facial recognition in front of the human-machine interface screen 21. The system verifies the personnel's permissions and application information. After successful verification, the system prepares to execute the dispensing procedure.

[0066] In step S400, after successful verification, the state of the baffle 130 of the electrode dispensing device is switched according to the electrode type and quantity requirements, releasing the electrode. The electrode dispensing device automatically opens the protective cover of the discharge port 25 on the housing 20. The welder takes out the dispensed electrode from the discharge port 25. After confirming the quantity is correct, the discharge port 25 is closed. The electrode inventory record is automatically updated according to the metering module, displaying the remaining electrode quantity.

[0067] This invention employs a high-precision welding electrode metering module based on mechanical discrete compartmentation, electromechanical collaborative control, and dynamic margin monitoring. It improves the efficiency of welding electrode requisition and distribution for drying operators and welders, and enhances the accuracy of welding material counting in three aspects: First, it achieves a strict correspondence between the release of a fixed number of welding electrodes per action through an interlocking mechanism of the axial array paddle 220 and plunger 310; second, it eliminates counting errors caused by mechanical rebound by using dynamic compensation technology for the preload of the second elastic element 510; and third, it constructs a margin prediction model based on the rotation frequency analysis of the rotating shaft 210 using a Hall sensor, enabling real-time dynamic monitoring and replenishment decisions.

[0068] This invention achieves quantitative compartmentalized storage of welding electrodes through an interlocking mechanism of axial array paddles 220 and plungers 310. It utilizes a rotating shaft 210 with equal phase angle distribution to control the step-by-step release of baffles 130. Combined with Hall effect sensors detecting the angular displacement of the rotating shaft 210 and employing a quantization counting algorithm, it achieves precise measurement of welding electrodes in a single operation. Simultaneously, a dynamic residual monitoring model is constructed, triggering multi-level warnings when the remaining welding electrode quantity falls below a threshold. This solves the problems of low efficiency and large errors associated with traditional manual counting, and features high measurement accuracy, fast response speed, and strong anti-interference capabilities. It is suitable for intelligent welding electrode management in welding workshops. It can improve the work efficiency of drying operators and welders, achieving cost reduction and efficiency improvement.

[0069] While the present invention has been disclosed above with reference to preferred embodiments, it is not intended to limit the invention. Any variations and modifications can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, any modifications, equivalent changes, and alterations made to the above embodiments based on the technical essence of the present invention, without departing from the scope of the invention, fall within the protection scope defined by the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A welding rod dispenser characterized by, It includes at least one welding electrode dispensing unit; the welding electrode dispensing unit includes a compartmenting mechanism, a release mechanism, and a metering module; The compartmentation mechanism includes a base plate, a support plate, and at least one baffle. The support plate is fixed to the base plate and is inclined relative to the base plate; The tray has a slot adapted to the baffle, and the baffle is inserted into the slot; The baffle and the support plate define a welding electrode receiving space for accommodating at least one welding electrode; The baffle has a first state and a second state; In the first state, at least part of the baffle is higher than the support plate, and the welding rod is located within the welding rod receiving space; In the second state, the baffle is not higher than the support plate, and the welding rod rolls toward the lower end of the support plate, thereby detaching from the support plate and releasing the welding rod; The release mechanism includes a rotating shaft and a paddle fixed to the rotating shaft. During the rotation of the rotating shaft, the paddle can contact the baffle in the first state to drive the baffle to move relative to the support plate, thereby switching the baffle to the second state. The metering module is connected to the rotating shaft and is used to detect the angular displacement of the rotating shaft, and to obtain the number of released welding rods and the remaining welding rods based on the angular displacement. There are multiple baffles, and the multiple baffles are respectively inserted into the multiple slots on the support plate; The baffle is equipped with a lever; The release mechanism includes a plurality of the aforementioned paddles, and each paddle corresponds to a lever of each of the aforementioned baffles; The electrode dispensing unit also includes a limiting mechanism and a reset mechanism; The limiting mechanism includes a plunger, a first elastic element, and a fixing plate; The first elastic element is sleeved on the plunger, and the first end of the plunger passes through the opening of the fixed plate and is fixed to the reset mechanism. The fixed plate and the base plate are fixedly connected, and the two ends of the first elastic element abut against the fixed plate and the second end of the plunger, respectively. The baffle is also provided with a plunger hole that is compatible with the plunger; When the baffle is in the first state, the plunger hole and the lever are located above the plunger; When the baffle is in the second state, the second end of the plunger is located inside the plunger hole; The plunger extends along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and located in the plane of the base plate; The reset mechanism can move along the second direction; When the baffle is in the second state, and the reset mechanism moves away from the fixed plate, the reset mechanism drives the plunger to move until the plunger disengages from the plunger hole, the baffle switches to the first state, and the first elastic element is compressed. After the reset mechanism is released, the plunger resets by means of the elastic force generated by the compression of the first elastic element.

2. The electrode dispensing device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The plurality of slots are spaced apart along the inclined direction of the baffle, and the baffles are arranged sequentially along the inclined direction of the baffle.

3. The electrode dispensing device as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The axial distance between two adjacent levers is equal to the distance between the corresponding two baffles.

4. The electrode dispensing device as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The rotating shaft extends along a first direction, and a plurality of the paddles are arranged circumferentially along the rotating shaft, with an included angle between adjacent paddles; The metering module includes a Hall sensor; The Hall sensor is used to detect the angular displacement of the rotating shaft, and combined with the interval angle, to determine the number of welding rods released in a single operation; wherein, the first direction is the projection direction of the inclined direction of the baffle onto the base plate.

5. The electrode dispensing device as described in claim 4, characterized in that, The two levers with the largest axial distance have a neutral angle between them, which is 5° to 15°.

6. The electrode dispensing device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The electrode dispensing device also includes a second elastic element; The two ends of the second elastic element are respectively connected to the base plate and the baffle; When the baffle is in the second state, the second elastic element is compressed; After the plunger disengages from the plunger hole, the elastic force generated by the compression of the second elastic element can push the baffle upward, thereby causing the baffle to switch to the first state.

7. The electrode dispensing device as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The baffle also has a protrusion; when the baffle is in the second state, the protrusion abuts against the support plate; and / or The second elastic element is at least two; and / or The second elastic element is a spring, and a boss is provided on the base plate. One end of the second elastic element is sleeved on the boss, and the other end of the second elastic element abuts against the bottom end of the baffle.

8. A method for dispensing welding electrodes, characterized in that, Applied to the electrode dispensing device as described in any one of claims 1-7; The electrode dispensing method includes: Place the preset type and preset quantity of welding electrodes into the electrode receiving space of the welding electrode dispensing device; Obtain the welding electrode type and quantity requirements input by the welder; Verify the welder's identity; After verification, the state of the baffle of the electrode dispensing device is switched to release the electrode according to the electrode type and quantity requirements.

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